IMPACT Justice workshop commences -to enhance community mediation services

IMPACT Justice workshop commences –to enhance community mediation services

Oct 11, 2016 News

Minister Volda Lawrence (third from left) in the company of facilitators of the workshop.

Intended to build capacity for community mediation services, an Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT JUSTICE) project workshop commenced at the Marriott Hotel yesterday.
The project is one being funded by the Canadian Government.
Impact Justice is a five-year regional justice sector reform project which is being implemented from within the Caribbean Law Institute Centre at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop yesterday, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence, said that Government already acknowledges the outstanding work that IMPACT Justice has already accomplished through its activities in some sister CARICOM nations.
Since the commencement of the project in April 2014, IMPACT Justice has facilitated mediation training in Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Lawrence underscored that the ultimate goal is to enhance access to justice and drafting model legislation to address deficiencies in the areas of justice outside of those directly related to the judiciary and the courts in relevant areas such as arbitration, mediation, businesses among others.
In addition to the workshop sessions for Social Protection personnel and police ranks that commenced simultaneously yesterday, two more are scheduled for Guyana for October 31 to November 4.
According to Minister Lawrence, “I have read of the dynamic role that IMPACT Justice has played in the mediation training in Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica and other Member States and our practitioners are eager to be a part of this work in progress so that they can better interface at the community and grass-root levels in resolving family and community-related conflicts.”
She noted that it is a fact that on a daily basis, “our probation officers and social workers are faced with a multiplicity of issues for which they are not adequately equipped as they traverse the various regions in Guyana.”
The Minister revealed, too, that it is also true that her Ministry’s workforce is overwhelmed at times because of geographical factors and the paucity of well-informed resource personnel to address issues in a prompt and effective manner.
“The Government of Guyana lauds the Government of Canada for funding this project and wishes to express its sincere appreciation for this widespread initiative which will result in an enhanced gender-responsive framework, and upgrade of skills for the legal profession in CARICOM Member States, improved capacity for alternative dispute resolution, restorative justice and community-based peace building services for settling disputes, and increased access to these services by women, men, youth and businesses in Member States,” said Minister Lawrence.
She added that Government recognises the importance of the project within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. “The government is happy that IMPACT Justice is in Guyana so that our practitioners can benefit from this intervention which will allow them to embrace the SDGs and impact effectively on our stakeholders. This initiative will empower our respective nations at the national and regional levels towards efforts of ensuring sustainable development,” the Minister said.
The Ministry of Social Protection is mandated with the important task of supporting and strengthening family relationships and building better communities. “This is the reason why these workshops are so opportune, for our Ministry practitioners will receive training in the use and implementation of mediation services within the community,” stressed the Minister.
She went on to add that “the knowledge of this skill set will facilitate alternative dispute resolution, thus engaging parties and effecting positive changes in the community and society in general.”
It is anticipated that the training will reduce the onus and the clutter of cases in the courts, engender better interpersonal relationships and promote responsible conflict resolution.

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